Taipei, China, Taiwan

Taipei, the bubbly capital and most visited city of Taiwan has a lot of attractions and places of interest. Since Taipei is also home to an international airport, most travelers will start their trip in Taiwan from here and it is a great base to get a taste of this diverse country before moving on to other areas. Also make sure to check out the food while you are here as Taipei is known for having some of the most delicious dishes and street snacks in the country.

Taipei 101

Taipei 101 was once the tallest tower in the world and although it no longer holds this claim to fame it is still worth visiting. You can visit the observation decks on the 88th, 89th, and 91st floors of the tower, some of which are outside and some inside. The main reason to come here is to take in the amazing views over Taipei, so it’s a great place to come if you are newly arrived in the city as it will give you an overview of how the city is laid out and help you plan your orientation. Aside from the observation decks you will also find shops, bars, restaurants and even nightclubs inside Taipei 101.

Elephant Mountain

For a view of a different kind consider heading to Elephant Mountain where you can watch the glowing sunset over the city. Locals will tell you that these are the best views in all of Taipei and it’s a great way to get out of town and take in some cleaner mountain air. Elephant Mountain is also known as the Nangang District Hiking Trail and there are paved trails you can follow that offer you some premium hiking while still being close to the city. If the crowds in Taipei are getting too much for you then this is a great place to come, just make sure to wear proper hiking shoes or boots and take care during the rainy season.

Chiang Kai-shek Memorial

If you are interested in learning about the Second World War and some of Taiwan’s early history then look no further than the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial, which is primarily a monument to the former leader of Taiwan. The site also houses a comprehensive and interesting museum that will tell you all about Chiang Kai-shek’s life and his impact on Taiwan, so history buffs shouldn’t miss this stop. The memorial is located in the middle of a leafy park that has ponds and fountains and which makes a nice afternoon stroll if you want to take in some greenery in Taipei.

Shilin Night Market

The food in Taiwan is a unique mix of a range of different influences and many travelers to Asia claim that this is some of the best cuisine around. As such make sure that you don’t miss out by heading out to Shilin Night Market, known for being the largest night market in Taipei and home of some of its best street food. Snacks to look out for include local delicacy stinky tofu, Taiwanese bubble tea, and tasty oyster omelets.

Our thoughts

Taipei is an obvious place to start your trip to Taiwan and there is definitely enough here to keep you busy for a few days before you head further exploring other areas of Taiwan. From night markets to historic monuments and modern skyscrapers, there is a lot to see and do here even if time is limited. Also make sure that you make this a culinary tour and try some of Taipei’s food which is said to be some of the best in all of Taiwan.

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How do you get to Taipei?

Plane

By plane from Kaohsiung (55 min) and other domestic and international airports